Microbiology Flashcards
Which is the best specimen to send to the microbiology lab to screen for sexually transmitted infections in a 20 year old asymptomatic female who attends her GP Practice?
A vulvovaginal swab for chlamydia/gonococcal PCR
What is the treatment of bacterial vaginosis?
Metronidazole
What is the treatment of trichomons vaginalis
Metronidazole
What serotypes of chlamydia are associated with Lymphogranuloma Venereum
infection in MSM?
L1,L2 & L3
Which genital infection
is indicated by the presence of “Clue cells”
Bacterial vaginosis
Which STI requires a test of cure
Gonorrhoea
What is the scientific name for syphilis?
Treponema pallidum
What is the gram stain of neisseria gonorrhoeae?
Gram negative intracellular diplococcus (2 kidney beans facing each other)
How does pharyngeal gonorrhoea present?
Mainly asymptomatic
How does genital gonorrhea present in men/women?
Men - discharge (can be green) / pain / painful urination
Women - altered discharge / dysuria / pelvic pain
What is the treatment of gonorrhea
IM ceftriaxone (must be done in sexual health clinic not community)
What antibiotic are coliforms sensitive to?
Gentamicin
What bacteria does amoxicillin treat?
Gram positive bacteria
What antibiotic are anaerobes sensitive to?
Metronidazole
What is diagnostic of septic shock?
Low blood pressure that does not come back up when IV fluids are given
What is a side effect of gentamicin?
Dizziness
What organism causes meningitis in >21s
Strep pneumoniae (gram +ve diplococcus)
What organism causes meningitis in 10-21s
Neisseria meningitidis (gram negative intracellular)
What organism causes meningitis in children?
Haemophilus influenzae (gram negative bacillus)
What age groups are susceptible to meningitis caused by listeria
> 60 years or immunocompromised or neonates
When are steroids given in meningitis?
With or just before the first dose of antibiotics
What does high lymphocytes in the CSF indicate?
Often indicates viral meningitis or encephalitis
Where can you get listeria from?
Soft cheeses, cured meats and seafood
What is the treatment of bacterial meningitis?
Ceftriaxone IV (chloramphenicol for penicillin allergy) + dexamethasone IV
+ amoxicillin (co-trimoxazole for penicillin allergy) in listeria
Why is ceftriaxone better than penicillin in meningitis treatment?
It has a longer half-life
Do you test for genital herpes in an asymptomatic patient?
No
What are the 4 C antibiotics
Clindamycin, cephalosporins (eg ceftriaxone), co-amoxiclav and ciprofloxacin
What are the components of sepsis 6?
Give 3 - Give fluids, oxygen and antibiotics
Take 3 - Take blood cultures, monitor urine output and measure lactate
If a patient has been on amoxicillin, metronidazole and gentamicin for 3 days and you have found coliforms in the blood culture but have not yet gotten results for sensitivities, what should you do?
Prescribe aztreonam as a substitute for gentamicin as this is day 4
Do high lymphocytes in the CSF in a patient with meningitis always indicate the cause is viral meningitis?
No - it could be partially treated bacterial meningitis as the partial treatment interferes with the CSF results
When would you inform public health about a case of meningitis?
Within 24hrs of admission
